DSW closes Union Square store in San Francisco

The DSW in San Francisco’s Union Square is closing its doors after nine years.

A green “closed” sign now adorns the store, at 400 Post Street, and customers have only been able to pick up online orders there, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
While DSW didn’t say why it closed the four-story store, it’s more than likely the latest fallout from the pandemic.

The company’s parent, Designer Brands, said in March that it could close about 65 stores across the U.S. over the next four years, including 24 in 2021. The stores that are closing weren’t identified. An official said the locations had lease expirations coming up soon.

“As store traffic remains constrained and consumers continue choosing to shop digitally and forgo a trip to the store, we are closely evaluating our existing store infrastructure,” Jared Poff, Designer Brands chief financial officer, said at the time.

Multiple retailers have shuttered downtown San Francisco locations during the pandemic. Among them: Gap, H&M, Marshalls and Uniqlo. In addition, Walgreens said last month that it would close five stores due to excessive shoplifting. Nordstrom Rack shut its 555 Ninth Street store in October, which led to 41 layoffs.

Some retailers are moving into the area. The Brilliant Earth jewelry company leased office space at 300 Grant Avenue, joining outdoor clothing retailer Arc’teryx. Swiss watchmaker Omega also recently opened a store at 103 Geary Street.

“We have several leases that are in the works,” Cushman & Wakefield broker Kazuko Morgan told the Chronicle. “As long as the current climate keeps continuing, we feel very good about 2022.”

An end to pandemic travel bans may also bolster local real estate. The JPMorgan Health Care Conference returns to the city in January.

Read more

San Francisco

City rejects micro homes project in Tenderloin

[SFC] — Victoria Pruitt